I Want to Be a Blogger

It's true, I'll admit it. I really want to be a blogger.

 A blogger could wear a shirt probably meant for children with red and blue cars printed all over it, couldn't she?

Don't misunderstand. I don't mean by that that I want to grow my hair long so I can wear a topknot, or that I want to drink Starbucks (coffee? Eww!), or that I want to shop at J. Crew or or do any of the things it's often said that the stereotypical blogger does.

I want to be a blogger in that I want to blog seriously. What I've learned from the past year since beginning my involvement in the world of online self-publishing is that I really, really like blogging. I love opening up my laptop every day. I like coming up with blog post ideas out of the random things that happen in life, and I enjoy having a reason to write constantly. I get excited about sharing my perspective with the world and encouraging others that it's a good thing to be a little different and to live outside of the box. I'm a writer. I've always loved writing, but this last year's experience has simply been a confirmation to me that writing is really my passion in life. Sure, I'm just another impractical dreamer who wants to have a career doing what they love, but I'm an impractical dreamer who's serious about it, who's willing to invest the time it takes.

What I've seen in blogging for the last year is that blogging can be a career. People do make incomes off of their blog, people do get book deals and speaking engagements and start writing careers by first building a blog audience. That doesn't happen to every blogger, of course, not even to the vast majority of bloggers, but it does happen.

I desire to have a writing career. Now don't worry, friends, my blog will never turn into one big online advertisement. I think writing is too much fun for me to ever think I'd want to "waste" all of my blog posts by only writing sponsored content, or that I'd hire someone to write for me. Boring! This doesn't mean I wouldn't post any sponsored content, but any posts about brands will be accompanied by a plethora of uniquely Rachelish writings, I assure you. Also, I honestly don't think constantly hosting blog hops and giveaways is the best way to build a readership, and I would be sad to see my blog turned into one hosted blog hop after another, so I won't be going that route, either.

I do want to turn this little hobby of mine into a career, but I know I'm not able to do it alone. I may love writing, and I may think my own writing is hilarious and insightful and a joy to behold...but I don't really count as a worthwhile "audience", just as one person who's obviously biased. I need your help, in a few different ways:

1. Each of you have your own networks, and I believe personal recommendation is a powerful thing. My sister recommends books and I read them, my brother recommends Youtube videos and I watch them. If you like my writing, if you don't think that my dream is utterly crazy, and you want to be part of helping me out on the road to accomplishing what I'd love to do, tell a friend who reads blogs about a funny one she should know about. I'd be thrilled if you guys would tell your friends about me, or write a facebook post, or tweet a link to a post of mine that you especially enjoyed, or even mention The Random Writings on your blog. You guys can do more to promote my blog to people who actually might read and enjoy it than I ever could, and I'd be ever so grateful if you would use your influence for the cause of helping me get serious about building a reader base and pursue this as a career.

2. Technologically, I really don't know what's the best use of my time as far as aspects of blogging besides writing blog posts. Writing blog posts is 100% my favorite part, but I realize that more than just writing needs to happen. You all have different areas of expertise. Blog designers, be honest--is my blog design going to turn away readers? Is it worth investing in a better one? Bloggers who already have experience with brand partnerships and making a few dollars in this business--how do you get started? What networks should/could I join? When should I approach a brand and when should I wait for them to approach me? How do I continue to build a readership while working on improving aspects of blogging besides content alone? Photographers--What could I do to make my photos more visually appealing? To the general reader of this blog--What's good here, and what's bad? What do you think I should do more of...and what do you skip over? What topics should I write about? Do you like the serious stuff better or the silly stuff better? What ideas would you want to hear my perspective on?

Thank you, every one of you, for reading. I'm really looking forward to your advice on how to pursue this goal of mine. I know I don't have nearly all the answers, but I have a feeling that with a bit of teamwork, we can at least come up with a good supply of info on the intricate workings of this industry that I'd love to enter.

So, yeah, I may sound a little crazy right now, but hey, who knows? Maybe a few years down the road, you'll be able to say, "I read Rachel G. before she was cool."